Sorting-desk.



Patented Oct. 8, MN. 8. A. HARRISON.

SORTING DESK.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shoot L (No Model.)

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No. 684,232. Patented Oct. 8, I90].

8. A. HARRISON.

SOBTING DESK.

(Application filed. Feb. 2, 1901.)

(No Modei.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. HARRISON, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

SORTING-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 684,232, dated.October 8, 1901.

Application filed February 2, 1901. Serial No. 45,712. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. HARRISON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Sorting-Desks, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to appliances for sorting mail-matter and otherarticles, as bills or invoices, and has for its object to provide adevice with a series of shelves or compartments, the sizes of which maybe readily varied, the said shelves being capable of being releasedsimultaneously by a peculiar novel construction.

The invention will be fullydescribed hereinafter and the features ofnovelty pointed out in the appended claims. 1

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention adapted for use as apost-office sortingdesk. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa sectional detail on the line 3 3 of Fig.4.. Fig. A is an inverted plan of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is asectional plan on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, drawn upon an enlarged scale.Fig. 6 is a detail plan of the shelf-releasing slide. Fig. 7 is anelevation showing one of the shelf-supports with the adjacent portion ofa shelf in section substantially on the plane indicated by the line 7 7of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a plan of one of the shelves, and Fig. 9 is a frontelevation of another form of shelf.

The device comprises a table A, supported on legs A or otherwise, and arack or cabinet of shelves at the rear end of the table. This rack has arear Wall E and a series of parallel vertical walls or partitions B,forming columns or divisions for the shelves 0. Each of the walls B hasa central vertical guideway or groove B into which fit projections 0,located centrally on the shelves 0, which are adapted to slide up anddown between the walls 13. At a distance forward and rearward from saidgrooves the walls B are provided with vertically-extending recesses B inwhich are located rods D, mounted to turn about vertical axes. The rodsD carry teeth D, adapted to form supports for the shelves 0, which arepreferably provided for this purpose with downwardly extending springs 0Fig. 7, so that it is easy to move the shelves up, but not to move themdown. The teeth D normally extend inward or toward the companion rod Dto properly support the shelves 0. The recesses B however, are made ofsufficient size to allow the teeth D to be received therein when therods D are turned about their vertical axes. To effect such movement, Iprovide a releasingslide F, Fig. 6, having an operating-handle F, (seealso Figs. 1 and 2,) projected to a point where it may be readily takenhold of, and said slide has a limited forward and backward movement (ina horizontal direction) and carries four small racks F engaging pinionsD at the lower ends of the rods D. By this means the rods D can be soturned that their teeth D will release the shelves 0, when of course allthe shelves will drop to the bottom. This is of great advantage when itis desired to rearrange the shelves. Inasmuch as each shelf can be movedup individually, compartments of various sizes may be formed accordingto requirements, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Eachrow or column of shelveshas its individual independent releasing-slide F.

The manner of using the shelves 0 will be obvious. The teeth D normallyprevent a downward movement of the shelves, and the projections O,fitting into the grooves B hold the shelves against forward or backwardmovement.

In using my invention for sorting letters at post-offices it is intendedthat each shelf should receive the mail of one addressee only. As somepersons or concerns receive a much larger amount of mail-matter thanothers, it would be inconvenient to use the shelves for all addressees.In order to provide for such cases, I have located at one side of thetable A a series of inclined receptacles or chutes G, to which leadapertures A in the table. These apertures are normally closed by a slideH, connected by link H with a lever I, ful

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such a position as to keep the apertures A closed. When it is desired touncover the said apertures, the operator presses a pedal K, fulcrumed ona bracket K and pivotally connected with the lever I. Letters or othermail-matter may then be introduced into the receptacles or chutes G tobe removed therefrom in any suitable manner, and as soon as the pedal Kis released the slide H will return to close the apertures A In Fig. 9 Ihave illustrated a shelf C differing from that shown in the otherfigures by being provided with legs 0 and by having the springs 0 madesomewhat longer than the springs 0 The central lugs or projections C arethe same as before. lVhen the shelves are released by the mechanismhereinbefore described, the legs C will come to rest on the next shelfbelow, so that there will be left a small space or compartment betweenadjacent shelves Without any necessity for the post-office clerk orother attendant to raise one shelf from the other. The improved desksaves space and particularly economizes time.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the nature ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A sorting-desk comprising uprights having supportsprojected therefrom laterally, said uprights being mounted to turn abouttheir longitudinal axes, shelves engaging said supports, and means forturning the uprights to release the shelves.

2. Asorting-desk comprising rods mounted to turn about theirlongitudinal axes and provided with lateral projections, shelves orpartitions engaging said projections, and means for turning the rods torelease the shelves.

3. A sorting-desk comprising parallel vertical walls, vertical rods journaled in recesses of said walls and provided withlaterally-projecting teeth, shelves resting on said teeth, and means forturning the rods.

4;. A sorting-desk comprising parallel vertical walls, upright rodsjournaled at said Walls and provided with laterally-projecting teeth,shelves resting on said teeth, and means i for turning the rods.

5. A sorting-desk comprising parallel ver-' tical walls having verticalguideways, upright 1 rods journaled at said walls, both in front- 7 andrear of said guideways and provided with laterally-extending teeth,shelves engaging" said guideways and resting on said teeth, and meansfor turning the rods.

6. A sorting-desk comprising movable uprights provided withlaterally-extending sup-. ports, shelves engaging said supports, and

means for moving the uprights to bring their supports out of engagementwith the shelves.

7. A sorting-desk comprising movable upi 7 rights provided withlaterally-extending supports, shelves provided with springs engagingsaid supports, and means for moving the uprights to bring their supportsout of engagement with the shelves. 7 i

8. A sorting-desk comprising parallel rods I mounted to turn about theirlongitudinal r axes and provided with lateral projections,

shelves or partitions engaging said PIOjBC.

the corresponding receptacles or chutes, and V p means for moving saidslide against the ten sion of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 7 name to this specification inthe presence of r a two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL A. HARRISON.

Witnesses:

JOHN LOTKA, v EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL.

